68 LETTERS TO DR, SUCKLEY AND LIEUTENANT MULLAN. 
Wallah. At Wallah-Wallah you will receive additional instructions. We have met Garry, 
the chief of the Spokanes, and I am highly pleased with him. He is a man of entire honesty 
and great energy, and well calculated to be chief of his tribe. Under his auspices I think his 
people will improve rapidly. You are aware of my wish to establish a meteorological post 
between the Cascade and Bitter Root mountains. 
I wish you would consider this matter and endeavor to advise me in regard to its location and 
the manner in which it should be conducted. Three places come into competition, Wallah- 
Wallah, Fort Colville, and the Spokane river ; and I am at present inclined to the opinion that 
Wallah-Wallah is the most suitable. 
Give all the attention you possibly can to the Indians, particularly to the Spokane and Nez 
Perces. 
Yours, &c., 
ISAAC I. STEVENS. 
Lieut. R. Arnon, 4th Artillery. 
Nor fl 
Camp WAsHINGTON, 
Twelve Miles South of Spokane House, October 29, 1853. 
Dear Sm: I have learned from Mr. McDonald, at Colville, that the Hudson’s Bay people never 
attempt the passage of the Columbia in boats from the Pend d’Oreille mission; and I have 
therefore requested Lieutenant Arnold, now at Colville, to send to the mission a guide, and 
with the suggestion that you come from that point by land. 
My object in this is to inform you, so far as I learn, of the dangers ahead, that you may not 
be exposed to unnecessary risk. I have also suggested to Lieutenant Arnold, that, on your 
meeting him at Colville, you should mutually confer in reference to your future operations. 
You may deem it advisable to accompany him by land, and I have given to him authority, 
should the lateness of the season or the condition of his animals forbid his journey by land, to 
descend the river in a boat; in which case I shall wish to have you go together. My object in 
making these suggestions is to guard yourself and your men from unnecessary risk, and not to 
interfere in the slightest degree with the field you wish to occupy. I wish that field should be 
occupied as fully as the lateness of the season and the means in your power will permit, that 
the best results may be gained. 
Yours, truly, 
ISAAC I. STEVENS, 
Governor of Washington Territory, &e. 
Dr. Guorcr Suckiey. 
No. 13. 
Camp WAsHINGTON, 
Twelve Miles South of Spokane House, October 29, 1853. 
Dear Str: Our eastern and western divisions have met at this point, and the train has now 
been carried entirely across. Captain McClellan has discovered two passes in the Cascade range, 
north of Mount Rainier, and has explored the whole range from the Columbia to the 49th par- 
allel. He and the officers with him are in excellent health, and have done an immense amount 
of work. Last evening we had a little supper or meeting of the gentlemen of the two divisions, — 
at which your name, and those of other gentlemen on detached service, were not forgotten. I 
have borne constantly in mind whatI told you in regard to supplying provisions and Indian 
goods, and I will avail myself of the very first opportunity to do so, 
